Man City to win two halves and both teams to score top West Ham bets

Based on the way that Manchester City have been playing at the Etihad this season, a match special of 6/5 that Manuel Pellegrini’s men beat West Ham by at least three goals in the first leg of their Capital One Cup semi final could be deemed a generous offer.

After all, City have won 13 of their 14 home games this season and scored at least three times on no fewer than 11 occasions, while West Ham have conceding 16 goals across their last five games and lost four in the process.

Even with loan signing Roger Johnson available for an immediate debut, the Hammers’ squad is still in disarray, with Mark Noble the latest to be considered a doubt.

Although not renown for the scoring prowess, the Hammers had scored in four successive away games until their shambles with a weakened team at Nottingham Forest and it is guaranteed that Sam Allardyce will pick a stronger line-up here.

With West Ham scoring fairly frequently on the road, netting on their last three visits to the Etihad and Man City failing to shut out the opposition in three of their last five at home, there is little to really back up thoughts of a home clean sheet here.

Both teams to score is available at 11/10, with Man City winning a game without a clean sheet priced at a decent 7/4.

Elsewhere it is 1/1 that Man City score more than the Hammers in both halves, which is something they have done in nine of their 14 home outings this season.

For those, preferring to stick with match betting, Man City are understandably the heavy favourites for victory at 1/6, although West Ham’s odds of 18/1 may find some takers, given they have already triumphed at Tottenham twice this season.

The corners markets are additionally worthy of some attention, as 6/4 is a nice price on 13 or more corners being awarded in the game.